Shawn Nelson, director of the the RI District 6440 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) program, visited the Grayslake Rotary Club on April 20th.  He also escorted two local area students, Jessica and Dylan, whom the Grayslake Rotary Club helped sponsor for this year's award.
Shawn gave a short presentation on the RYLA program, and then yielded the floor to the students.  Jessica participated in the RYLA  weekend program in March, and Dylan attended in April.  Both gave a short overview of their experiences at the leadership weekend, and then entertained question froms the membership.  In his closing remarks, Shawn noted that Rotary Clubs could best assist the RYLA program in helping to secure corporate sponsorships and through outreach to local schools.

Particularly noteworthy in Jessica's presentation was her reference to Rachel's Challenge, a growing movement that emphasizes the use of kindness to help others.  The Rachel in Rachel's Challenge is Rachel Scott, who was the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Her acts of kindness and compassion coupled with the contents of her six diaries have become the foundation for one of the most life-changing school programs in America. You can learn more about Rachel's Challenge at the program's website.